Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Scientific paper
2011-12-29
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
21 pages, invited review accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics, Topical Issue on Cosmic Rays
Scientific paper
In this paper we review air shower data related to the mass composition of cosmic rays above 10$^{15}$ eV. After explaining the basic relations between air shower observables and the primary mass and energy of cosmic rays, we present different approaches and results of composition studies with surface detectors. Furthermore, we discuss measurements of the longitudinal development of air showers from non-imaging Cherenkov detectors and fluorescence telescopes. The interpretation of these experimental results in terms of primary mass is highly susceptible to the theoretical uncertainties of hadronic interactions in air showers. We nevertheless attempt to calculate the logarithmic mass from the data using different hadronic interaction models and to study its energy dependence from 10$^{15}$ to 10$^{20}$ eV.
Kampert Karl-Heinz
Unger Michael
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